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Rado Royal Date Day 41mm, Steel Case, Blue Dial Automatic Ladies Watch
Ref. R30024012
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Stepping up in Rado's range
The Centrix collection has long been Rado's case study in doing more with less — a round case refined until nothing unnecessary remains. This 30.5mm reference takes that further with an edge-to-edge curved sapphire crystal that meets the case walls without interruption, so the dial appears to float behind glass rather than sit behind it. At 8.9mm thick, it disappears under a cuff. The bracelet is where the construction becomes interesting: the outer links are rose gold PVD-coated steel, while the centre links are grey plasma high-tech ceramic — a material Rado uses across its higher collections for its resistance to scratching and its cool, matte weight against the wrist. The contrast reads as deliberate, not decorative. Inside, the R079 draws on ETA quartz engineering with thermocompensation built in, meaning accuracy holds through the temperature shifts of daily wear in a way that standard quartz does not guarantee.
- Reference
- R30024012
- Brand
- Rado
- Collection
- Centrix
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 8.9mm
- Case material
- Rose gold PVD
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- R079
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Three-fold clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Ex-display
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Origin
- Swiss made
- Warranty
- 5 years
Learn more about Rado
Rado began as Schlup & Co, a movement manufacturer founded by the Schlup brothers in Lengnau in 1917. It became one of the largest movement producers in the world before releasing watches under the Rado name in 1957.
The brand's entire identity rests on a single question: how do you stop a watch from looking worn? The DiaStar of 1962 was marketed as the world's first scratchproof watch, using hardmetal — tungsten carbide — and a sapphire crystal at a time when both were exotic in watchmaking.
Rado then spent decades pushing further into materials most watchmakers avoided because they are difficult to machine and impossible to correct. High-tech ceramic arrived in 1986 with the Integral, and the Ceramica of 1990 was made almost entirely from it. The company developed plasma high-tech ceramic, which is heated to 20,000 degrees to acquire a metallic sheen without any metal content, and Ceramos, a ceramic-metal composite.
The V10K of 2002 used high-tech diamond and reached 10,000 on the Vickers scale — the hardness of diamond itself, and a Guinness record.
Rado's design language is correspondingly clean and monolithic, with the True and Captain Cook lines carrying the modern collection. The company has been part of the Swatch Group since 1983.
- 1917
- Founded as Schlup & Co in Lengnau.
- 1957
- The first watches carry the Rado name.
- 1962
- The DiaStar introduces a scratchproof hardmetal case.
- 1986
- High-tech ceramic enters production.
- 2002
- The V10K reaches diamond-level surface hardness.
Also in 7 collections
This watch appears in the Rado Centrix range (17), Back in Stock (4,847), Women's Watches (1,622), Silver Dial Watches (718), Two-Tone Watches (476), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344) and Rose Gold Watches (269).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 8.9mm is unusually slim for a 41mm case
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Rado's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Rado Royal Date Day 41mm, alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | R30024012 | CAZ101AM.FT8054 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,320 | £1,330 |
| Case size | 41mm | 43mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 200m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap |
| This watch |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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